Toyota Land Cruiser Fj40 Spare Tire Carrier on 2040-parts.com

Survey reveals in-car climate clashes

CLIMATE change isn’t just leading to arguments in politics – it’s causing heat in cars, too, because it seems men and women simply can’t agree on what temperature to set. A new study from Kwik Fit has revealed that 52% of couples whose cars have air conditioning argue over what temperature to set it at, and it’s usually men who want it cooler than their female companions. And as many as 250,000 drivers across the country say their air-con preferences are so different to their partner’s that they simply have to keep the system turned off to avoid bust-ups.

Frankfurt auto show: Mercedes-Benz previews the electric B-class

Mercedes-Benz revealed an electric-powered B-class with range-extending capabilities at the Frankfurt motor show. This rounds out the company's line of standard gasoline- and diesel-engine versions in the second generation of the multipurpose fiver-seater. Set to go on sale in selected markets in 2013, the B-class E-cell Plus is propelled by a 136-hp electric motor that draws electricity from a lithium-ion battery mounted low within the car's MFA platform structure.

2014 Jaguar F-Type video teaser drops ahead of Paris motor show

Readers have spotted both V6- and V8-powered examples of the upcoming Jaguar F-Type hiding in plain sight in the western United States. Spy photos might not satisfy our craving for detailed specifications on the sleek roadster—we won't know much more until the car debuts at the 2012 Paris motor show—but they have convinced us that the new Jaguar will be pleasing to the eye. The above teaser video suggests that the F-Type will be as attractive in motion as it is in still photos.